The story behind this extraordinary gift to Microsoft from Daimler-Benz AG of Germany.

Back in cold war times in 1961, the East German government built the more than 4-meter-high Wall to protect its socialist paradise against what it called "imperialist aggression." From the East German perspective, the Wall had become crucial to protect its economy. A steadily growing number of East German people had lost faith in the future of the socialist system and had become uncomfortable with government control over public and personal life. They preferred to live in the capitalist, democratic part of Germany even at the cost of leaving all of their relatives and their belongings behind. Crossing the border was still easy before the Wall was built – many East Berliners even worked in West Berlin and would return to their homes in East Berlin after work before the Wall cut them off from their jobs.

Later in the late 70s or early 80s, Daimler-Benz AG negotiated with the West Berlin government to purchase an area of several hundred-thousand square-meters right next to the section of the Wall erected at the Potsdamer Platz, which was once the heart of Berlin and the busiest place in the city until the war ended. The new East German government had completely flattened the whole area by tearing down the remains of stores, homes, and business centers. Now, this area was "the end of the world" from the Western perspective, an ugly place close to the wall, filled with land mines and towers housing soldiers who would fire at anyone who tried to cross from the East to the West.

Over the years, the West Berlin people became accustomed to the Wall, and young Berliners began to use its surface for graffiti art. Not all of the Wall became the canvas for art, but the part located at Potsdamer Platz was a very prominent one and therefore some very attractive and unique graffiti was created on the section that bordered the Daimler-Benz-owned land.

Then the Wall fell in 1989, and suddenly the "end of the world" turned into an attractive location in the center of the city for investors. Daimler-Benz, very happy now about the investment it made many years before, decided to build a new business center on this land. The Wall had to be removed to make room for new life, and most sections were either sold or given to museums.

In February 1996, Microsoft’s chairman, Bill Gates, visited the headquarters of Daimler-Benz. Most know this huge company for its famous Mercedes-Benz cars. But in the 80s and early 90s, Daimler-Benz expanded its business through mergers and acquisitions to become a global technology company, with businesses in many markets, from cars and airplanes to computers and software.

Gates' visit was therefore important not only because Daimler-Benz is one of Microsoft’s oldest large-account customers, but because Daimler-Benz wanted to establish a long-term strategic partnership involving software technology in several areas, in particular in the area of software for future in-car computers. Klaus Mangold, member of the board of Daimler-Benz and head of DEBIS, the company’s technology subsidiary, greeted Gates and presented the wall section as a gift to Microsoft. Discussions between the two companies are ongoing.

Another section of the Berlin Wall called "Bloody Erich" is housed at the Center House at Seattle Center. This original piece of the Berlin Wall stood on the Potsdamer Platz near Checkpoint Charlie. The stirring graphic painted on the West German side was nicknamed Bloody Erich for former East German communist leader Erich Honecker, who gave orders to shoot the many East Germans trying to climb the Wall.

Measuring 4 feet by 12 feet, the section was taken to Seattle for promotional purposes by Hamburg businessman Achim Becker for the American Numismatic Association Convention. Upon seeing the structure, Hans von Beesten, Deputy Consul General of the Federal Republic of Germany, suggested it be given to the City of Seattle. Von Beesten was moved by the joy and participation the people of Seattle shared with Germany when the Berlin Wall fell in 1989. He explained, "This wall is a gift from Germans to Americans ... a way to remember our common joy. Here is the symbol of freedom," Becker embraced the idea and gave the wall section to the city for display at Seattle Center.

On behalf of the Seattle City Council and the citizens of Seattle, Mayor Norman B. Rice accepted the three-ton wall section at a dedication ceremony held on January 12, 1991.